“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” – Colossians 3:2

Scripture reading: Philippians 3:12-21 & Colossians 3:1-4

In his work on Spiritual Mindedness, the Puritan Pastor and theologian John Owen, asks his readers the question: “What do you think about when you are thinking about nothing in particular?” To state his question another way: What is the default setting of your mind? When you’re driving home from work, and the traffic is light – when you’re just cruising along – Where does your mind most immediately go?

How we answer that question says a great deal about us, doesn’t it? And what the answer to that question probably says for many of us is that our hearts and our minds are fixed on earthly things when they should be fixed on heavenly things. Now, there are some who might raise the objection at this point and caution against this notion by saying, “Those who are so heavenly minded are of no earthly good.”

And yet, if you read on into the rest of the chapter, what you’ll soon discover is that those who are heavenly minded do the most earthly good. For if your head is in heaven, that’s going to have an extraordinary impact on the use of your hands and your feet on the earth. If your head is in heaven – if the affections of your heart and the thoughts of your mind are fixed upon Christ and governed by Christ, the blessedness of that will bleed into every area of your life.

Suggestions for prayer

Ask God to forgive our earthly-mindedness. Ask Him to grant us heavenly-mindedness.

Rev. Bryce De Zwarte is a native of Pella, Iowa and a graduate of Dordt University and Mid-America Reformed Seminary. Rev. De Zwarte has been serving as the pastor of the Adoration URC in Vineland, Ontario since April of 2020. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com.